Walpole St – Named after Horace Walpole (1717-1797). Walpole was author of the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. First appears in street directories in 1887.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the naming of this street. The first entry that I found on Papers Past was from the Lyttelton Times in 1882 and mentions a Mrs Simmons. Huge number of births, deaths and marriage notices. I liked the entry from 1932 when a man living on this street won £5000 in the ‘tatts’. A reporter walked the street until he found the winner. The winner didn’t was his name used but did use Mr H.E.R on the winning ticket. In 1918 this street had several entries regarding a missing woman and there was a sad outcome. This street runs from Thackeray Place to Wilsons Rd. There are still a few older houses here dating from 1905 to 1920 and they are lovely. One house from 1930 and many from 1990s and huge number from 2000 onwards. I didn’t particularly like the newer buildings as they are crammed onto the sections like sardines.

Shakespeare Rd in Waltham- Named after William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Shakespeare was a playwright. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. First appears in street directories in 1887.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the naming of the street.In 1881 the Board of Heath were concerned about stagnant water in the old clay pits between the railway and Shakespeare Rd. Note typhoid was an issue in Christchurch and there were many deaths from this disease. In 1883 there was a complaint about the wild and untrimmed gorse hedges on this street and the council were prepared to look at the problem. In 1884 it was recommend that a gas street lamp be installed. In 1886 the council wanted landowners to give up part of their properties for widening the road. In 1888 there were complaints from the residents about the bad and dangerous state of the road and possibly the council listened as in 1898 the footpaths were to be asphalted.Huge number of birth and death notices and between 1917 and 1920 many births were at Nurse Rastrick’s place at 9 Shakespeare Rd.This street runs from Waltham Rd to Wilsons Rd and it is mostly a business area but I was surprised at how many houses here especially towards Wilsons Rd end. Most are very modern townhouses but not sure that I would like to live in them. One house dates from 1890 but I wouldn’t have picked it as that old and I didn’t get a photo. Wouldn’t be surprised if it is eventually demolished. A few from 1910 to 1915 and a couple from 1970 and 1980. The older houses weren’t in a great condition.

Dewsbury Lane in Sydenham – Little Queen Street and Dewsbury’s Lane. Named after Benjamin Dewsbury (1801?- 1886). Little Queen Street is mentioned in the Star in 1879 and appears there as late as 1909. Dewsbury was a Methodist lay preacher. He arrived in Canterbury in 1863. Dewsbury’s Lane is described in The Press in 1882 as “a narrow right-ofway between Battersea Street and Gladstone Street”. First mentioned in street directories in 1887 so the street had two names for a time. Dewsburys Lane was made a public street from 1 January 1888.A reasonable of information from the library website for a tiny street. I will have to confess that I didn’t know that this lane existed as it is so tiny and I probably wouldn’t attempt to drive down it.In 1879 a cottage was for sale on Little Queen Street but after that date both names were used until 1909. In 1882 the Board of Heath wanted an inquiry into the sanitary conditions of the street and it can’t have improved as in 1887 there was a letter to the editor of The Star headed A Sydenham Stench. The writer suggested that the residents of the street should use the nightman rather than using a cesspit or disposing of their nightsoil according to their own sweet will and pleasure.In 1887 the residents asked the council to take the necessary steps for making it into a public street. The council must have been happy with that as in December 1887 it was declared that it would become a public street from 1st January 1888.In 1886 there were well built cottages for sale. I was amused by a court case in 1905 when a man was accused of visiting a questionable house on the street. In 1925 bundles of letters were found in a vacant section and they had been stolen from a nearby post box. There was at least one house for sale in 1941 and it doesn’t seem like there were many people who lived here. There were two men with the name Benjamin Dewsbury and the father died in 1886 and the son died in 1905. Benjamin senior lived on Antigua St but possible had business premises on Colombo St. This street seems to have been mostly developed after Benjamin senior’s death and he died at his son-in-law’s house. This lane just looks like an alleyway and I didn’t know that it was here and I thought that I knew this area well. The lane runs between Wordsworth and Battersea Streets and I used to walk down Wordsworth every week day when I worked at a bank on Colombo St.

Wordsworth Street in Sydenham – formerly Fourth Street and Foster’s Road. Gladstone Street was incorporated into Wordsworth Street. Formerly Fourth Street. The streets south of, and parallel to, Moorhouse Avenue were named in numerical order. Foster’s Road is another early informal name. Re-named Wordsworth Street. Named after William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Gladstone Street was named after William Ewart Gladstone (1809- 1898 On an 1879 map Fourth Street appears running from Harper Street (later Orbell Street) to Gasworks Road (later Waltham Road). Fourth Street and Foster’s Road never appear in street directories. Fourth Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1874 in a report of a meeting of the Heathcote Road Board. Wordsworth Street first appears in the Star in 1882 when a house on the corner of Wordsworth Street and Gasworks Road is advertised to let. First appears in street directories in 1887, running off Hawdon Street. Wordsworth was one of the English Romantic poets. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. The section of Fourth Street running from Colombo Street to Durham Street was renamed Gladstone Street officially on 2nd August 1880, when the street naming committee of the Sydenham Borough Council recommended that “Second, Third and Fourth streets be respectively named Sandyford, Battersea and Gladstone streets, these being the names under which they are dedicated to the public, and which were chosen by the first residents in those streets”. William Ewart Gladstone was a British Prime Minister and also brother-in-law to Lord Lyttelton. Incorporated into Wordsworth Street on 27 September 1915.A huge amount of information from the library website and not a lot that I can add to it. In 1882 there were sections for sale. In 1883 a Mr Ditford applied for a license for a house on the corner of Wordsworth St and Waltham Rd and he had already been rejected in 1882. The reason that I took note of this is that I used to know people with that surname from my sons kindergarten days.In 1888 there were complaints to the council about a house of ill fame. Council said not their problem go to the police. In 1894 there were complaints about the footpaths flooding in heavy rain. In 18977 sewage was mentioned plus there was a request for street lamps. In 1894 a Mr Wise had swing boats that were enjoyed by children at a fair. This same Mr Wise had problems with a neighbour as the neighbour threw poisoned wheat onto Mr Wise’s property. Mr Wise kept pigeons and the neighbour was unhappy about this. I thought that the Wise’s Directory might have been named after this man but it is named after a Henry Wise from Dunedin.There were a huge number of birth and death notices but this street is no longer residential. It runs from Orbell St to Waltham Rd and it is full of businesses and a few shops. Mixture of old and new buildings. On the corner of Wordsworth St and Buchan St there is Buchan St Playground but sadly in the last year all the play equipment has bee removed. Even the memorial school bell has gone but I believe the plaque is still there. I used to frequently sit in this park to eat my lunch when I worked in the area.

Lyndon St in Riccarton- Formerly Marlborough Street. Named after the New Zealand province of Marlborough. Re-named Lyndon Street. Marlborough Street is first mentioned in The Press in 1899 when sections are advertised for sale there. One of a group of streets named after places in central New Zealand. First appears in street directories in 1904. Re-named Lyndon Street in 1943 because there is a Marlborough Street in Linwood. Tyne Street was suggested as an alternative name.A reasonable amount of information from the library website. Found the same information about the name change and also the sections for sale in 1899. Papers Past mostly had birth and death notices for the street. The name is either a place name in the UK or someone’s surname but couldn’t find anyone with that name in the cemetery database. Ancestry website didn’t give me any likely candidates either. The street runs from Divison St to Picton Ave and the houses date from 1905 to 2020 and cover most decades. The houses dating from 1905 are on back sections and are hard to see because of buildings in front of them. The older houses are wooden and most are in reasonable condition. A lot of multi units on the street and some of the more modern ones are very ugly.

Peverel St in Riccarton – Paton Street, Sackville Street, Stamford Street were amalgamated into Peverel Street. Euston Place was incorporated into Peverel Street. Named after Hatfield Peverel in Essex England. It was the birthplace of Edward Mulcock (1837- 1915). He also named his home in Flaxton, North Canterbury, Peverel Place. Deposit Plan 2052 dated 1904 shows Edward Thomas Mulcock (1861-1937), son of Edward, and his brother-inlaw, Edward William Relph (1858-1943), as owners of the land where this street was formed. Their land was located between Riccarton Road and what is now Blenheim Road, with Wellington Street (later Clarence Street) on the east and Cutler’s Road (later Matipo Street), on the west. Peverel Street first appears in street directories in 1906 running from Division Street to Clarence Street only. First mentioned in The Press in 1904 when land in the vicinity is advertised for sale. First appears in street directories in 1906, running from Clarence Street to Division Street only. A 1912 map shows that Peverel Street from Picton Avenue to Clarence Street was formerly named Paton Street; from Division Street to Cutler’s Lane (later Matipo Street was Sackville Street; from Cutler’s Lane (later Matipo Street) to Wainui Street was Stamford Street. Paton Street and Sackville Street were incorporated into Peverel Street by 1918. Stamford Street from Cutler’s Road (later Matipo Street) to Wainui Street was incorporated into Peverel Street on 14 May 1923. Stamford Street from Euston Street to Wharenui Road was re-named Euston Place on 14 May 1923. This was later incorporated into Peverel Street. A huge amount of information from the library website and it is also very confusing. If Edward Thomas Mulcock and his brother-in-law owned the land here there is no record of either of them living here. See my notes on Dallas Street. I searched Papers Past and ancestry website. The earliest mention is sections for sale in 1904 and more sections were sold in 1907 and 1918. There were many birth and death notices plus marriages in St James Church. The Mission Hall was also mentioned. The church hall was destroyed in a fire in 1921 and a new church was built on Riccarton Rd. Sadly that church was damaged in the earthquakes. In 1913 a private school and kindergarten was mentioned and it sounded like it was at the Clarence end of the street.This street was longer than I expected and it runs from Picton Ave to Wharenui Rd. The houses date from 1910 to 2020 and are a mixture of styles. The older houses are wooden and a couple are looking very rundown. The houses from 1940s and 1950s look like State Houses but I couldn’t find any mention of this on Papers Past but there is a huge area nearby that was State Housing. The more modern properties are blocks of apartments and some look like social housing. There is a community garden which includes a community pantry. The Riccarton Baptist Church is on this street as well. Near Wharenui Rd end of the street there is a park called Harrington Park. I actually walked this street over a year ago but never wrote it up. It was the same day that I had my wee fall on Picton Ave and smashed my phone. Also a few scraps and bruises for my body. Hint is always watch where you are walking and look out for low slung chains and not be looking at your phone.

Dallas St in Riccarton- Formerly Edward Street. Named after Edward Mulcock (1837- 1915). Re-named Dallas Street. Named after William Dallas Bean (1865-1955). Edward Street first appears in street directories in 1908. Mulcock owned the land where this street was formed. Re-named Dallas Street on 27 September 1948. Bean, a teacher of Southbrook, married firstly, in 1891, Thurza Ann Mulcock (1866?-1920), and later, in 1923, Thirza Olivia Thompson (1884?-1959). Information on naming of Edward Street supplied by Paul Mulcock in 2008 in an interview with Margaret Harper.A reasonable amount of information and as it was a member of the Mulcock family who supplied the information it should be correct.The trouble is that I couldn’t find any members of this family living in Riccarton or owning land here,Edward Mulcock was born Hartfield Peverals in Essex and he settled in Flaxton where he had a farm that he called Peveral / Peveril. Papers Past used both spellings. Edward was a member of the Manderville and Rangoria Drainage Board until he resigned in 1901. In 1906 Peveral Farm in Flaxton was up for auction as Edward was retiring from farming. Yet the property was still in Mulcock family in 1936 as Frederick Mulcock died there in 1936. Several photos online for Peveral PLace but sadly it was demolished in 2015 because of earthquake damage.When Edward retired he moved to Christchurch and I was amused that electoral roles had him down as out of business. He had a couple of addresses when living in Christchurch but they were in Sydenham and Cashmere before he died in Sumner in 1915.I found sections for sale in 1890 and 1903 for the Stamford Estate and in 1907 there were sections for sale in Edward St and these were part of the Stamford Estate. The only Stamford that I could find was William Edward Stamford and he died in 1880 but his wife died in 1899. William Stamford lived in Woolston. There are only 39 properties here and most are dated from 1990s but a few from 1960 to 1980. One from 1905 and one from 1920 but they didn’t stand out as being older houses. This street is very close to Riccarton Mall which is very convenient. Mostly residential flats with a couple of businesses at the Mall end of the street. I lived on this street for one year in 2000 to 2001 and I quite liked it. You get used to the noise from the Mall unless the fire alarm goes off. I ended up walking this street about three times as I kept forgetting to write it up.

Tara St in Riccarton- First appears in street directories in 1943. Not much information on the library website,This is a tiny street that runs from Shand Crescent to Paeroa Reserve. Papers Past had sections for sale in 1940 and 1941 and described as being part of Deans Estate. I thought that Tara was possibly a person’s name but it more likely to be the Maori word for a tern. The streets that surrounding this tiny street were developed especially as a State Housing subdivision so surprised that this one wasn’t included especially as the houses have a State House look about them. There are only 7 properties here and there are two from 1940, two from 1959, two from 190 and one from 1970. This area is full of University students. There used to be a geocache here and it was fun looking for it knowing students could look out windows and see you.

Burdale St – Alma Street, from Clarence Street to Picton Avenue, and Washbourne Street, formed off Mandeville Street. Formerly Alma Street and Washbourne Street. Washbourne Street was named after Henry John Washbourne (1816- 1898). Re-named Burdale Street. Probably named after Burdale, North Yorkshire, England. Alma Street is first mentioned in The Press in 1901 when the Riccarton Road Board decided to take over some roads in Hall’s Township. First appears in street directories in 1908. Washbourne Street was named in 1913. First appears in street directories in 1915. The second Crown Grant of 50 acres west of Hagley Park was made to Washbourne in 1851. Alma Street and Washbourne Street were amalgamated to form Burdale Street on 27 September 1948. A reasonable amount of information from the library website and not a lot that I can add. Papers Past have an entry in 1913 about new street formed to be named Washbourne St and I found the same information about Alma St from 1901. As Henry Washbourne is from Gloucestershire it is unlikely that Burdale is connected to his family.This street runs from Manderville St to Clarence St and there is a strange kink in the street at Picton Ave and it looks like two different streets. Mostly businesses at the Manderville St end. There is one nice looking wooden house dating from 1930. The rest date from 1960 to 2010 and many are flats rather than houses. Some of the modern ones are ugly.

Euston St in Riccarton – Named after Euston Road in the London borough of Camden. It was the first street developed in the Shand subdivision. First mentioned in the Star in 1908 when canaries for sale there are advertised. First appears in street directories in 1908. Euston St – Named after Euston Road in the London borough of Camden. It was the first street developed in the Shand subdivision. First mentioned in the Star in 1908 when canaries for sale there are advertised. First appears in street directories in 1908. A reasonable amount of information from the library website and I found the same mention of canaries for sale. There was also an Euston St in Sumner which was a much older street. I found two Shand families but John Shand who died in 1874 lived in Avon Lodge Riccarton and his occupation was gentleman. He had three children and two died fairly young. His wife also died young and John came to New Zealand after his wife’s death and there is no record of him remarrying. His son Thomas J W Shand lived in the property after his father’s death and there is no record of Thomas getting married. Thomas was still living in Riccarton until his death in 1918 aged 83. He is buried with his father in Upper Riccarton. This Shand family came from Liverpool so the name Euston must have come from whoever developed the land for housing. I will complain yet again about the mistakes that people make on the ancestry website. I wish that they would do their research properly. This street runs from Riccarton Rd to Peverel St and at the Riccarton Rd end there are shops and a car yard. There are some lovely older wooden houses here dating from 1910 to 1920. A few from 1930 to 1950 and they have a State House look about them. There were a lot of brick houses from the 1990s and brick seemed to be the favoured building material in the 1990s. There were also a few houses built in 2018. It actually looked like a pleasant street but suspect that it might be student territory which would put me off. Note I am catching up on streets that I walked in July 2020 and have no idea why I didn’t write them up at the time.